"This is a test... it's only a test..."

So Manda and Mama are both in-healing vs. in-training. Sad, but true.

Mama still don't know just what is up with Crankly, which is frustrating - but what she do know is that it hurts and it ought not be out runnin' right now. The rest of her is grieving this loss.... just look at these beautiful autumn days beckoning a runner to run.... sigh. She vows, though, to end the facebook whine-fest and focus on what's next....

Yeah, Mama trusts a grander plan is unfolding and resistance is futile. This is a test - it is only a test....

Healing is the next right step for now - we will do our best to be gracious and pursue healing endeavors with the same hutzpah we pursued training routines. And we just might toss some surprising out-of-the-box creative alternatives in the mix, when we're ready....

Meanwhile, we will definitely continue fundraising for leukemia. And blogging.

Stay tuned..... <3

LaLaPaLooza Land

 

So last Thursday, Amanda, her boot and I started spreading the word about LaLaPaLooza Benefit Concert for Leukemia, right here in our village of Glendale. LaLaPaLooza for Leukemia will take place September 18, 2010 on the Village Green just off Sharon Road near the railroad tracks in our sacred little town. We have five different musical acts that will take turns playing between 6:00 - 11:00 pm. I count myself blessed to know all of these wonderful musicians and call them friends. Musicians to perform include: 

Amy Lord Flury & The Sins 

Serenity Fisher

WALK THE MOON    

Amanda Matson

Restless Day

Amanda will be playing her original country songs in-between acts and will have help MC-ing the event from her friends, Joel Brown and Liz Lothrop. Joel and Liz are sophomores at Mason High School and have both spent the past two years fighting Leukemia. We have followed their journeys from first diagnosis until now and are in awe of their strength and courage, and the profound and inspiring stories they have experienced with their families along the way. We will include more pics, videos, links and words documenting their stories on the "Our Heroes" page of this blog.

Liz, Joel and Amanda at MHS Homecoming game 2009

The LaLaPaLooza for Leukemia is about raising awareness, funds and community that lead to hope and healing. Besides great music and awesome MC's, there will also be a Silent Auction, Split the Pot, A LiveinLove ART Booth, BEER, friends, laughs and fun! Manda and Mama hope to see you there! 

If you would like to donate items or services to the Silent Auction or are interested in volunteering in LaLaPaLooza Land, let me know! Watch for updates about LaLaPaLooza Benefit Concert for Leukemia on LaLaPaLooza Land page of this blog. ;-)

From the inside out

A big huge HUG of Gratitude to my wonderful artist pal and our latest hero, Pattie Mosca!
I met Patti five years ago at The Artella Retreat - a kindred spirit with a generous soul and a prolific creator of whimsical, spiritual, affirming mandalas. Check out her blog, From the Inside Out, and be blown away by her creative energy and inspiring affirmations. Pattie created the Laugh & Dream logo for me several years ago - isn't it beautiful?
Pattie's beloved husband has been living life with cancer and they are an inspiration to so many with the beautiful, powerful way they LIVE life to the fullest, while battling this disease one day at a time. Thank you and blessings as your journey continues. <3

I wake this morning from a curious DREAM to find my 1st message of the day is from Fred's Team: "A New Donation"! Yay! I LAUGH with glee! This is such excellent news, as we have raised very little of our pledge thus far.... and I (detail lackey that I am) did not realize until mid-afternoon yesterday that we are to turn in the full amount two weeks BEFORE the marathon, which is September 24. Aaargh. I had been counting on a fundraising event in early October. So... I'm revising the plan....  Stay tuned for info about some really cool, groovy, awesome and amazing fundraising opportunities coming your way soon. Meanwhile, all donations that come into mine and Amanda's Fred's Team Pages at this point (for ANY amount) feel like gifts of love dropped from heaven above.... not only for Amanda and I on our training journey, but for those who are suffering and will benefit from having funding to seek cures and provide treatment.

Donate to Robin Link
Donate to Amanda Link

One step, one donor at a time

This training is all about coming together to raise up those in need of healing and support. It's all about connecting for a purpose, believing in healing and personal power to transform. It's about giving and receiving, asking, allowing, trusting and .... well, running the distance. Some of us are doing it by pounding shoes on pavement and stretching our calves every hour; others are doing it with needles in their arms and chemo in their bloodstream; yet others by staying up all night, stroking hair and speaking words of calm - all of us do it one step at a time.
And when it comes to raising money, we do it one donor and one dollar at a time - and for each and every step, for each and every dollar, we give thanks.
 We want everyone to know the wonderful people making a difference on this journey, so you will  be recognized in the Our Heroes List in the sidebar of this blog.
We give extra special thanks and gratitude to....
Our 1st donor: Maarten & Shannon Foubert (and Alexander, Jonas & baby ??, too)

Thank you, Jonas & Alexander & your parents, too!

If you want to donate and be one of our Heroes, you can do that here:
Donate to Robin



Meanwhile, we run. 6 miles yesterday. A welcome rest today (thankful for that, since it is 101 degrees outside!)... prepping this week for the 14 mile endurance run this weekend....
  

Meet Sandy Sidekick :-0

Running has its place, and I did my 6 miles (I think, in some hallucinogenic beach scenario)... and went on about my day.... which involved hooking up with my trusty new fund raising sidekick, Sandy, at an especially orange Panera... we plotted, planned & schemed... be ready. ;-) And I love you, Sidekick Sandy.... thank you for the gift of your gifts.... more to come...

And so it begins...

Monday, July 5 - I'm out for a low-key morning run in Glendale, around the block, coming up Albion Lane: a thought - "Chicago - Manda wants to do a college visit to University of Chicago - hey, maybe we could run the marathon and schedule a college visit this fall!"

I run home and forget all about it, until....

Two days later, Amanda's in her room and I'm thinking "in a year we'll be prepping her for college and.... Oh yeah, what about the Chicago Marathon idea?" And I hurry to explain the concept. Manda's eyes shine, "Yeah, let's DO IT!"

Eager for info, we get online. Registration is closed. Boo.
Unless.... you run for a charity.

Manda's eyes light up again, "Yeah! We'll raise money for cancer - for leukemia! We can do it, Mom! What if we have that concert with your friends?"

And an hour later, we're registered with Fred's Team to raise $2000 each. (Yup, $4000. Yup, my husband is freaked.) What we didn't realize was that we hadn't officially registered for the Chicago Marathon. But since we believe we are, we live life around the online Nike Training Schedule - running, running, running.

The Mama in me starts worrying whether Manda is really ready for this. She's had health issues, after all --- we should probably check with her doctors first.  Doubt and worry, worry and doubt.

And then.... Email from Fred's Team: Thanks for registering with us, but you're not registered for the marathon. Still need to fill out more forms, pay more money.... hmmm.... maybe this is our chance to back out.... definitely want doctors' approval before we submit official reg forms, but that takes time - and the deadline is tomorrow. I call and request an extension. Agreed - two weeks.

We get appointments, stay on training track. Run our long 10 mile endurance run on Loveland trail - longest run of Manda's life; longest run for me in six years. Manda clocks us at 91.5 minutes. Accomplishment.

Two doctor appointments, two thumbs up - just be sure to add stretching and strengthening to that schedule. Just be sure we're running for the right reasons. Run, stretch, run, stretch, sweat sweat sweat.

As of yesterday, we are officially registered! (And psyched!)

Let the fund raising begin! Stay tuned for Making Music, Raising Money Fundraiser for Leukemia details soon....

Manda and Mama have started this blog to document our journey. Hopefully, there will be songs, videos, photos and updates from both of us on all things marathon-related between now and then....